What to wear for the festivals and functions of the Indian year: the colours people reach for, what each day asks of your clothes, and a few practical tips.
General guidance Ways of wearing vary by family, region and fabric. Take what helps and wear it your way.
Diwali
The festival of lights calls for rich fabric and warm colour: silk sarees, festive kurtis and anarkalis, worn for puja, family visits and the evening's diyas.
- Maroon
- Deep red
- Gold
- Emerald
- Royal purple
- Mustard
- Silk sarees with zari borders, such as Kanjivaram and Banarasi, are the traditional choice for the puja.
- Around diyas and sparklers, keep loose pallus and dupattas pinned close, and prefer cotton or silk to synthetic fabric near a flame.
- Pair rich colour with gold or kundan jewellery, and let one piece be the star.
- For a long day of visits, a festive kurti or a co-ord set is easier than a heavy drape.
Weddings
A wedding is often four or five functions over a few days, each with its own mood. As a guest, dress up, stay comfortable, and leave the spotlight to the couple.
- Marigold
- Haldi yellow
- Mehendi green
- Blush pink
- Fuchsia
- Wine
- Royal blue
- Champagne
- Haldi: yellow, marigold and lime, in cotton or a light fabric you do not mind getting turmeric on.
- Mehendi: greens, pinks and bright prints; short or three-quarter sleeves keep the henna safe.
- Sangeet: the dressy, dance-ready night, for sequins, flared lehengas, anarkalis and co-ord sets.
- Wedding day: rich silks and jewel tones. Many guests avoid bridal red, and some families avoid all-white or all-black; ask if unsure.
Raksha Bandhan
A day at home with family, often in monsoon weather. Think fresh, easy colour that is comfortable through the rituals and a long lunch.
- Mint
- Peach
- Lemon
- Sky blue
- Lilac
- Coral
- Cotton and cotton-silk kurtis, light sarees and co-ord sets suit the humid season.
- Pastels and bright prints photograph well in daylight.
- Keep the sleeves practical: you will be tying rakhis and serving sweets.
Karva Chauth
A day of fasting that ends with the moon and the evening puja. Many married women dress as they did on their wedding day, in red and other auspicious colours.
- Red
- Maroon
- Pink
- Orange
- Gold
- Green
- A silk or embroidered saree, or an anarkali with a heavy dupatta, are traditional choices.
- You will sit for the puja: choose a drape or a flare that lets you sit comfortably.
- Plan for the evening chill in the north with full or three-quarter sleeves, or a shawl.
Office and everyday
For work and for the everyday, the best Indian wear is the kind you forget you are wearing: breathable, easy to move in, and quietly put together.
- Ivory
- Indigo
- Sage
- Dusty rose
- Teal
- Charcoal
- Office: straight or A-line kurtis and co-ord sets in cotton, linen or a soft blend, in muted colour with one detail, such as a print or a neckline.
- A handloom or cotton saree is smart for meetings and occasions at work; pin the pallu so you can move freely.
- Everyday: prints, cottons and easy dresses. Check that a fabric breathes in the Indian summer, and is easy to wash.